UGH!! -- clutch disk stuck to flywheel

[doberjoe]

Looks like I let my car sit too long, and now the clutch disk is **firmly** stuck to the flywheel. Just installed the new driveline and manually bumping the car with the clutch in and trans in 2nd gear isn't breaking it loose, maybe even to the point of turning the engine over instead of breaking it loose.

Any other ideas out there?

Or, is it possible to take off lower inspection cover and pry a little between flywheel and disk (426 hemi and A-833 setup)? Or, drop the whole engine/trans/driveline and take it apart manually--not liking that option, but might be solution of last resort.

Thanks in advance!

Michael

 

[dvw]

If you can start it in gear and get it moving. Then get a little speed up. Push the pedal in and stop the car. It may pop it loose when it jerks to a stop.
Doug

 

[toolmanmike]

Check to make sure the disc isn't in backwards. I would remove the inspection cover and...............inspect.

 

[dan juhasz]

I had that issue once picked the car up with a floor jack on the pumpkin, had a buddy inside holding the clutch pedal down, started it in gear and dropped the lift quick the shock freed it up

 

[gkent]

This is not uncommom. A little humidity and rust forms on the flywheel and pressure plate surface and fuses the disc to it. Pushing the pedal in should release the pressure plate and a good jolt when the engine is running should break the disc loose from the flywheel.

 

[Daves69]

Or, is it possible to take off lower inspection cover and pry a little between flywheel and disk (426 hemi and A-833 setup)?

If you're going to try this, maybe use a thin, wide blade putty knife and a helper depressing the clutch pedal.

 

[#41]

Had this happen twice. It will come free as long as it has not been sitting in a swamp for 5 years. Try starting turning the engine over or pushing the car with the clutch pedal depressed.

 

[65Bel]

I had that issue once picked the car up with a floor jack on the pumpkin, had a buddy inside holding the clutch pedal down, started it in gear and dropped the lift quick the shock freed it up

If you try this, make sure it isn't in reverse gear!

 

[steve340]

Get it out on the road and bump start it. Drive along fairly slowly with the clutch pedal pushed down - it should come away fairly quickly.
You could try a little stab on the gas if it stubborn but don't get carried away.
Don't try the putty knife deal you will just damage the clutch disc.

 

[RemCharger]

Get it out on the road and bump start it. Drive along fairly slowly with the clutch pedal pushed down - it should come away fairly quickly.
You could try a little stab on the gas if it stubborn but don't get carried away.
Don't try the putty knife deal you will just damage the clutch disc.

You would have to push it in neutral and then jam it in gear. Not great.

 

[steve340]

You have it in gear before you push start the motor or crank the starter.

 

[moparedtn]

Those of you who had experiences on a farm know how farmers get stuck clutches to release on tractors, right?
Not that I'm advocating that method here, mind you....

 

[RemCharger]

You have it in gear before you push start the motor or crank the starter.

You would need 3 Andrè the Giants to push start a 426 Hemi in gear.. hard on the starter but may work..

 

[steve340]

For a roll start use second gear rather than first gear - a bit of a slope helps if one is close.

 

[doberjoe]

If you can start it in gear and get it moving. Then get a little speed up. Push the pedal in and stop the car. It may pop it loose when it jerks to a stop.
Doug

Thanks, Doug. No start. No carb, no battery, no cooling..everything is new.

 

[doberjoe]

Check to make sure the disc isn't in backwards. I would remove the inspection cover and...............inspect.

Interesting. I don't know why it would be backwards, but could certainly do that. Thinking ahead, but removing the inspection cover won't tell me if it's forwards or backwards, right? It's been about 50 years, but seems like the clutch disk spline sticks further out on one side vs. the other, but not sure I would even see that or know it visually by taking off the inspection cover. Wouldn't the material be the same on both sides of the disk, that is, against the metal flywheel and pressure plate surfaces??

 

[doberjoe]

I had that issue once picked the car up with a floor jack on the pumpkin, had a buddy inside holding the clutch pedal down, started it in gear and dropped the lift quick the shock freed it up

Thanks for the idea. Car doesn't run...lacks a carb, battery, etc. everything is new...just stuck. =(

 

[toolmanmike]

Interesting. I don't know why it would be backwards, but could certainly do that. Thinking ahead, but removing the inspection cover won't tell me if it's forwards or backwards, right? It's been about 50 years, but seems like the clutch disk spline sticks further out on one side vs. the other, but not sure I would even see that or know it visually by taking off the inspection cover. Wouldn't the material be the same on both sides of the disk, that is, against the metal flywheel and pressure plate surfaces??

The flat side of the disk goes against the flywherl. The hub is exposed to the rear

 

[doberjoe]

If you're going to try this, maybe use a thin, wide blade putty knife and a helper depressing the clutch pedal.

roger all, thanks. Probably a job in tediosity, but might be better than removing the whole drive train. Press in clutch, drive in shim/putty knife/tapered tool, pry up, release. Move 60 degrees, rinse, repeat. Might work, I'll advise results.

 

[doberjoe]

Had this happen twice. It will come free as long as it has not been sitting in a swamp for 5 years. Try starting turning the engine over or pushing the car with the clutch pedal depressed.

Thanks #41. Can't start the engine. Have tried pushing the car (aka, bumping), no luck.